In organic food production, the idea is to produce food naturally without harming the environment, plants, people or animals [1] . Organic food is produced according to international requirements, which in Europe are EC Regulations 834/2007 and 889/2008 [2] . Sometimes local guidelines are added on top of the international requirements[3] . Certified organic food is regulated by standards concerning production, storing, processing, handling and marketing [4] . In the EU, foods are required a minimum of 95 % organic content to be labelled “organic”[5] . The global organic food market has been growing significantly over recent years and it is considered to be one of the biggest growth markets of the food industry today[6] .
In organic food production, the use of genetically modified organisms is forbidden. There are also strict limitations as to the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, antibiotics, food additives and food processing aids[7] . Instead, organic farming relies on natural systems and cycles. Resources are circulated in closed cycles, so that outputs from one process become inputs in another [8] . For instance, organic fields are often fertilized with livestock manure, rather than chemical fertilizers[9] . The inputs to organic farming, such as feed for farm animals, often come from the farm itself [10][11] . This makes the organic farmer more self-sufficient than the conventional farmer.
Organic agriculture follows stricter animal welfare standards than conventional agriculture. A key aspect of animal welfare in this context is enabling natural living conditions for the animal. For instance, organic farming requires more space per farm animal, a certain amount of open-air grazing, naturally produced feed that is adapted to the animal’s physiology and the possibility for species-typical behavior.[12][13]
The difference between organic food and natural food is that the latter is not legally defined or recognized[14] .
The video below, with a perspective from the US, explains the history of organic food production and how the green revolution after WWII changed the way of farming and agriculture . The video also illustrates the benefits of producing and consuming organic products.
Benefits of organic food
By using mixed farming methods, managing field margins and non-crop habitats considerately and withstanding from the use of chemical pesticides and inorganic fertilizers, organic farming benefits the biodiversity of both the farmed land and the non-cropped habitat around it.[15]
Organic food consumption can lead to a decreased risk of allergic diseases, and have a positive effect on overweight or obesity among adults - however the scientific proof is limited[16] . Nevertheless, by supporting biodiversity, organic food production enhances the abilities of plants and animals to adjust to changing conditions, thus improving the resilience of farmers and farming communities[17][18] .
Additionally, organic farming uses approximately 20 percent less energy than conventional farming [19] . Lesser reliance on fossil fuels in the production phase contributes to improving resilience and long-term food security through organic food production[20][21] .
Connection to SDGs
By improving food security in terms of resilience and farm self-sufficiency, organic food production can play a part in achieving SDG 2, "Zero Hunger". One specific target of SDG 2 is to "ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality" [22] . Organic production aims for sustainability and maintaining ecosystems. As the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is limited, organic farming puts a lesser burden on the surrounding ecosystems, including land and waterways, than conventional farming[23] . This also links organic food to SDG 15, "Life on Land", which brings up land and soil degradation as well as biodiversity loss[24] .
Finally, organic food is connected to SDG 17, "Responsible Consumption and Production". This goal targets sustainable management and use of natural resources, reduction of chemicals and waste released to air, water and soil as well as sustainable consumption and procurement[25] , all of which are fundamental values in organic production. Consuming organic products is considered to be more sustainable than consuming conventional products, and it is a form of ethical consumerism.
Illustration of organizational praxis
In Finland, national targets for the development of organic products have been defined by the Government[26] . The targets are that by 2020, 20 % of Finland’s farmland will be organic and the volume of organic production will meet domestic consumption[27] . Further, organic food sales will have tripled within the retail trade and in the professional kitchen sector, and 20 % of the food served in schools and child care centers will be organic[28] .
The Finnish-Swedish foundation Sedmigradsky, carrying on day-care activities in Helsinki, Finland, follows certain principles when it comes to food[29] . They prepare the food themselves in their own kitchen, and try to use a lot of both domestic and organic food products[30] . By offering wholesome and nutritious food without unnecessary additives they want to arouse the children's interest towards food[31] .
The video below is an interview with a representative from one of the first ecostores in Finland, Ruohonjuuri[32] . Today, beside their webshop, they have 10 brick and mortar stores[33] .
Critique
A study from 2002 concludes that studies comparing health effects of organic versus conventionally-grown food is inadequate when it comes to both quality and quantity[34] . Therefore no conclusion regarding the impact of organic food on human health can be drawn[35] . The same conception is presented in a study from 2016, where it also came up that those buying organic food tend to have a more sustainable diet and in general a healthier lifestyle - which makes the assessment of benefits of consuming organic food versus conventionally-grown food harder[36] .
Examples from Finland
The video below [37] by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Finland shows an example of how the requirements of "more space per animal", "a certain amount of open-air grazing", "naturally produced feed" and "possibility for species-typical behavior" is understood by an organic sheep farmer in Finland.
^ Kahl, J., Baars, T., Bügel, S., Busscher, N., Huber, M., Kusche, D., Rembiałkowska, E., Schmid, O., Seidel, K., Taupier-Letage, B., Velimirov, A. and Załȩcka, A. (2012). Organic food quality: a framework for concept, definition and evaluation from the European perspective. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. Vol. 92 (14). pp. 2760–2765.
^ Kahl, J., Baars, T., Bügel, S., Busscher, N., Huber, M., Kusche, D., Rembiałkowska, E., Schmid, O., Seidel, K., Taupier-Letage, B., Velimirov, A. and Załȩcka, A. (2012). Organic food quality: a framework for concept, definition and evaluation from the European perspective. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture. Vol. 92 (14). pp. 2760–2765.
^ Williams, C. M. (2002). Nutritional quality of organic food: shades of grey or shades of green?. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. Vol. 61 (01). pp. 19-24.
^ Williams, C. M. (2002). Nutritional quality of organic food: shades of grey or shades of green?. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society. Vol. 61 (01). pp. 19-24.
^ Maa- ja metsätalousministeriö. (2015). Organic food from Finland - Organic Sheep. [video]. Available: https://youtu.be/85P-KfqxvDI Accessed: 28th March 2017
Definition
In organic food production, the idea is to produce food naturally without harming the environment, plants, people or animals [1] . Organic food is produced according to international requirements, which in Europe are EC Regulations 834/2007 and 889/2008 [2] . Sometimes local guidelines are added on top of the international requirements[3] . Certified organic food is regulated by standards concerning production, storing, processing, handling and marketing [4] . In the EU, foods are required a minimum of 95 % organic content to be labelled “organic”[5] . The global organic food market has been growing significantly over recent years and it is considered to be one of the biggest growth markets of the food industry today[6] .
In organic food production, the use of genetically modified organisms is forbidden. There are also strict limitations as to the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, antibiotics, food additives and food processing aids[7] . Instead, organic farming relies on natural systems and cycles. Resources are circulated in closed cycles, so that outputs from one process become inputs in another [8] . For instance, organic fields are often fertilized with livestock manure, rather than chemical fertilizers[9] . The inputs to organic farming, such as feed for farm animals, often come from the farm itself [10] [11] . This makes the organic farmer more self-sufficient than the conventional farmer.
Organic agriculture follows stricter animal welfare standards than conventional agriculture. A key aspect of animal welfare in this context is enabling natural living conditions for the animal. For instance, organic farming requires more space per farm animal, a certain amount of open-air grazing, naturally produced feed that is adapted to the animal’s physiology and the possibility for species-typical behavior.[12] [13]
The difference between organic food and natural food is that the latter is not legally defined or recognized[14] .
The video below, with a perspective from the US, explains the history of organic food production and how the green revolution after WWII changed the way of farming and agriculture . The video also illustrates the benefits of producing and consuming organic products.
Benefits of organic food
By using mixed farming methods, managing field margins and non-crop habitats considerately and withstanding from the use of chemical pesticides and inorganic fertilizers, organic farming benefits the biodiversity of both the farmed land and the non-cropped habitat around it.[15]
Organic food consumption can lead to a decreased risk of allergic diseases, and have a positive effect on overweight or obesity among adults - however the scientific proof is limited[16] . Nevertheless, by supporting biodiversity, organic food production enhances the abilities of plants and animals to adjust to changing conditions, thus improving the resilience of farmers and farming communities[17] [18] .
Additionally, organic farming uses approximately 20 percent less energy than conventional farming [19] . Lesser reliance on fossil fuels in the production phase contributes to improving resilience and long-term food security through organic food production[20] [21] .
Connection to SDGs
By improving food security in terms of resilience and farm self-sufficiency, organic food production can play a part in achieving SDG 2, "Zero Hunger". One specific target of SDG 2 is to "ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality" [22] . Organic production aims for sustainability and maintaining ecosystems. As the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides is limited, organic farming puts a lesser burden on the surrounding ecosystems, including land and waterways, than conventional farming[23] . This also links organic food to SDG 15, "Life on Land", which brings up land and soil degradation as well as biodiversity loss[24] .
Finally, organic food is connected to SDG 17, "Responsible Consumption and Production". This goal targets sustainable management and use of natural resources, reduction of chemicals and waste released to air, water and soil as well as sustainable consumption and procurement[25] , all of which are fundamental values in organic production. Consuming organic products is considered to be more sustainable than consuming conventional products, and it is a form of ethical consumerism.
Illustration of organizational praxis
In Finland, national targets for the development of organic products have been defined by the Government[26] . The targets are that by 2020, 20 % of Finland’s farmland will be organic and the volume of organic production will meet domestic consumption[27] . Further, organic food sales will have tripled within the retail trade and in the professional kitchen sector, and 20 % of the food served in schools and child care centers will be organic[28] .
The Finnish-Swedish foundation Sedmigradsky, carrying on day-care activities in Helsinki, Finland, follows certain principles when it comes to food[29] . They prepare the food themselves in their own kitchen, and try to use a lot of both domestic and organic food products[30] . By offering wholesome and nutritious food without unnecessary additives they want to arouse the children's interest towards food[31] .
The video below is an interview with a representative from one of the first ecostores in Finland, Ruohonjuuri[32] . Today, beside their webshop, they have 10 brick and mortar stores[33] .
Critique
A study from 2002 concludes that studies comparing health effects of organic versus conventionally-grown food is inadequate when it comes to both quality and quantity[34] . Therefore no conclusion regarding the impact of organic food on human health can be drawn[35] . The same conception is presented in a study from 2016, where it also came up that those buying organic food tend to have a more sustainable diet and in general a healthier lifestyle - which makes the assessment of benefits of consuming organic food versus conventionally-grown food harder[36] .
Examples from Finland
The video below [37] by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry in Finland shows an example of how the requirements of "more space per animal", "a certain amount of open-air grazing", "naturally produced feed" and "possibility for species-typical behavior" is understood by an organic sheep farmer in Finland.
Open Source
External Links
Quiz
Quiz created by Mimmi Pöysti with GoConqr
http://www.ruohonjuuri.fi/in-english/?L=bstgnfgvxqpemv Accessed: 11th April 2017
http://www.ruohonjuuri.fi/ruohonjuuri-oy/?L=bstgnfgvxqpemv Accessed: 11th April 2017